Patents by Inventor Robert Rickell

Robert Rickell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5484033
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a motor vehicle, having two drivable axles, a first axle being driven permanently by a drive unit and at least a second axle being connectable via a double coupling assembly so as to be externally controllable. The double coupling assembly comprises a common drivable coupling carrier with outer plates and individual sets of inner plates each connected to the axles of the second driving axle. The double coupling is actuated by a common actuating device, thereby permitting both sets of plates of the double coupling to be loaded by the same amount of actuation forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Michael Frank, Eugen Stall, Robert Rickell
  • Patent number: 5423235
    Abstract: A device for switching on a drive train in a motor vehicle has a power divider for several drive trains, one of which is permanently coupled with a drive unit and the other of which can be connected to the drive unit. The device also has an input shaft (2, 42, 82, 142) and an output shaft (4, 44, 84, 144) which can be connected to the input shaft (2, 42, 82, 142) through a switchable coupling (10, 50, 90, 150) in the form of an axially actuated friction clutch. The friction clutch is actuated by two rings (28, 30; 68, 70; 108, 110; 168, 170) which are coaxial with the clutch disks and which can be rotated relative to each other through 180.degree.. One ring is an axially supported support ring (28, 68, 108, 168) and the other ring is a pressure ring (30, 70, 110, 170) which slides axially on one of the shafts. The rings bear against each other on paths which can be varied axially around the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: John R. Botterill, Robert Rickell, Eugen Stall
  • Patent number: 5071392
    Abstract: A process for continuously controlling the degree of locking of open differential drives in a driven axle of a multi-axle vehicle, in the case of which a nominal value .DELTA..sub.v soll of the differential speed at the wheels driven via the differential gear is determined as a function of the vehicle speed v.sub.F determined at the non-driven wheels and which records the wheel speed differential .DELTA..sub.v ist between the wheels driven via the differential gear, which wheel speed differential .DELTA..sub.v ist is readjusted by varying the locking effect on the nominal value .DELTA..sub.v soll of the differential speed always deviating from zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Eugen Stall, Robert Rickell